A TEENAGER is recovering in hospital after being shot in the early hours of this morning.

The young man, aged in his late teens, was targeted outside a house in the Piercetown area of Newbridge, Co Kildare shortly before 5am today.

A man approached the teenager and discharged a firearm, believed to be a shotgun, hitting the victim at once in the leg before subsequently fleeing the scene.

Emergency services were notified at 4.50am and gardai as well as paramedics rushed to the scene.

The teenager was transferred to Naas General Hospital where he is recovering from his non-life threatening injuries, while gardai sealed off the scene to allow for a technical examination to be carried out.

A spokesperson for the garda press office appealed for anyone with information to contact investigating officers at Naas garda station.